WO2007143804A1 - Tripod support for positioning on a sitting posture - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention is related to a tripod support for helping positioning children suffering from neuromotor dysfunction, at the sitting position with knees in extension, for preventing the start of deformities of trunk, hip and lower limbs as well as aiding the rehabilitation of the neuromotor development. This support is made of a unique part, for positioning on the ground, presenting at its vertical axis, two extensions for accommodating head and shoulders, respectively, and at its horizontal axis, forming a 90° angle with the vertical axis, a system of chutes which bisect, forming an angle opening between each other of 45°, for accommodation of the lower limbs with the knees in extension. It presents a regulated band system.

Description

TRIPOD SUPPORT FOR POSITIONING ON A SITTING POSTURE APPLICATION FIELD

This invention refers to a tripod shaped rigid structure support adequate for aiding the maintenance of a sitting posture with the knees extended and abduction of the lower limbs, of children presenting motor dysfunction with alteration on the distribution of the muscle tonus, with asymmetrical movements and postural patterns, unable to acquire and maintain a sitting position in a suitable way, without the interference of reflex activity.

This invention has its application on the field of children rehabilitation, acting as an aid in the therapeutic treatment, as well as having large application on household use. BACKGROUND

Children suffering from neuromotor dysfunction have great difficulty to assume the sitting posture correctly. During the neuropsychomotor development of a child not presenting neurological compromising, the development stages follow a developing scale which is related to the chronological development. Such development happens in function of maturing of the nervous system, which is processed as the myelinization of the central nervous system occurs. In order that the child assumes the sitting posture, maturing of the nervous system is necessary, as well as a good control of the trunk which is obtained with the extended positioning of the trunk, and a good control of the hips, obtained by the positioning in flexure of the hip. Children having neuromotor dysfunction are not able to carry out concomitantly two different postural patterns, in distinct body segments. Such disability occurs because firstly the reflex activity promotes a corporal asymmetry besides determining most of the times only one moving pattern, extension or flexure; making it very difficult to acquire the sitting posture in a suitable way.

The prior art researched did not present any solutions for the problem herein pointed. From the documents researched, it was possible to verify that the prior art devices are directed to the application in disabled patients such as, for example, the patent application BR8905258, filed on 17th October 1989, which describes a device in the shape of a support-vest, which is used to promote sustaining of disabled patients having motor difficulty to sit down, the said support-vest is made in such a way as to be tied both on the chest part of the patient and on the chair where the patient will be sitting.

Thus, a lack on the art has been observed, especially when it refers to devices to be used on children. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This INVENTION has been initially prepared, having as its aim, the tripod sitting posture, acquired by children during their neuropsychomotor development, wherein the child assumes the sitting position with abduction of the lower limbs and knees in extension, sometimes leaning using the upper limbs in front of the body and the help of the hands, between the lower limbs, reminding a tripod. Such posture is developed by the child, around the age of 6 (six) months, being considered a mark on the neuromotor development.

This phase of the neuromotor development is one of the most important ones of children's development, as it provides the child with a higher posture, with enlargement of the visual field, allowing a better visual perception of the environment which surrounds her in order to develop the visomotor guidance, spatial guidance and equilibrium. This invention has as its aim to promote a suitable proprioceptive stimulus of the neuromuscular spindles, responsible for muscle contraction, which on the child having motor dysfunction, presents a disorganized activity, leading to the hyper excitement of some of the muscle groups, thus harming the synergism between the flexor and extensor muscles leading to the body asymmetry and preventing adequate postural control.

With the support of this invention, it is believed that there will occur a great change on the prior art level, especially on the children rehabilitation, as at the same time that this support allows the correct positioning of the child, it makes possible a more effective therapeutic approach as it confers more freedom to the therapist to develop other types of stimulation without having to keep correcting the child's posture and inhibiting the appearance of the abnormal reflex activity, as well as it makes possible for the therapist to position himself/herself in front of the child without having to worry about keeping her sitting and equilibrated. On household use, this invention allows more freedom to the people in charge and safety when positioning the child as well as making possible a positioning during the carrying out of entertainment activities similar to the positioning acquired by children, at this stage of development .

The model in question, will also allow the participation of the child in school activities, as she can be well positioned during the activities proposed at school, and well integrated to the group, as she will be sitting the same way as her colleagues, offering both safety and comfort for all the members of the group.

The importance of this model confers the child having motor dysfunction, the possibility of developing a healthier activity, free of contractures and deformities, which will naturally happen during the development of the child suffering from neuromotor disorders, delaying and even, preventing in some cases the carrying out of corrective surgeries. Thus it confers the child a better quality of life and it can promote its inclusion at school and in the society in a general way, allowing a better integration to the familiar nucleus.

The support device, of this invention, was designed having simple forms and rounded edges, in order not to offer any type of risk to the user or the people who may handle it .

The tripod support should be made of a light and resistant material allowing its transportation in a safe and easy way besides providing the positioning of the child in the device in a fast and easy way. In addition, this tripod support does not require much space for its conditioning, as it requires only the space occupied by the body of the child, because it acquires the shape of her body.

One of the greatest advantages of using this tripod support, is that it postures in an adequate way the child on a sitting position, maintaining a 45° abduction of the coxofemoral joint, preventing the subluxations of the hip, so frequent in the child suffering from motor dysfunction, due to the interference of the reflex activity, which is usually more intense on the adductor and flexor muscles of the lower limbs regulating along the time, the distribution of the muscle tonus and making it possible in future, for acquiring and maintaining the sitting posture without the need of using the device.

The device in question, besides providing an adequate sitting posture, allows the extensor muscles of the trunk to be activated gradually promoting the control of the trunk in extension as well as providing the development of the control of the head, which is difficult to be maintained by the neuromotor child when she is on a sitting position.

Thus, the tripod device allows the child having a neuromotor dysfunction to take part in the activities of the daily life, in a more effective and functional way.

The feeding time can be carried out in a more adequate position with the use of this tripod support/ making it easy for the carer to give the food, as he does not have to worry about positioning the child and at the same time give the food with the risk of causing bronchoaspirations by the incorrect positioning of the head and trunk, having as a consequence incoordination between suction/deglutition or chewing/deglutition, which will lead to pneumonias, so frequent in these children.

The device also allows the child to develop bimanual coordination, as she will have the possibility to move the higher limbs freely and explore the toys as well as other materials with the hands.

This device can be better understood by means of the detailed description of the support, with the presentation of the following drawings.

Figure 1 depicts a frontal view of the device of the present invention.

Figure 2 depicts a side view of the tripod support device of the present invention.

Figure 3 depicts a higher view showing support chutes of the tripod support device of the present invention. Figure 4 depicts a tripod support of the present invention showing the bands.

Referring to figure 1, a main or unique structure 1 can be seen, which contains an extension for the sides on the upper part 2, corresponding to the head support, a second lateral extension 3, corresponding to the support on the height of the shoulders .

In figure 2 the vertical axis of the unique structure 1 of the support can be observed, forming a 90° angle with the support chutes for the lower limbs 4 on the height of the pelvic waist. It is also seen a structure 5 serving as a support for the device forming a tripod with the main structure 1.

Figure 3 shows the support chutes for the lower limbs 4, forming with each other a 45° angle and extending up to the level of the ankle.

The tripod support device shows two bands crossing on the frontal part of the chest, an abdominal band and a band at the height of each knee, allowing perfect accommodation of the child at the support providing a safe positioning.

Preferably, the tripod support device has its inner part totally covered with an impermeable and soft material, where the child's body will rest, conferring comfort and no risk of compression along the child's body. On the outer part, there- is provided a hinged rod on the upper part, allowing opening thereof at an angle of around 35 degrees.

Figure 4 shows the tripod support in perspective, making possible a general view of the present invention. In figure 4 a band system is seen, which can comprise of a padded and impermeable material having a device opening at the side via Velcro, which allows a perfect adjustment between the bands and a better accommodation of the body in the support (trunk, hip, knee and ankles) , there being two bands 6, which originate at the posterior face of the second extension 3, crossing between each other at the anterior face of the support and fixing on the posterior face of the support 1, near the beginning of the anterior projection of the support, the band 7 which originates at the posterior face of the support 1, at the point wherein the support projects itself previously, for accommodation of the hip, directing to the anterior face, and there are still two other bands 8 and 9, at the chutes which bisect 4 for good accommodation of the knee and ankles fixed on the posterior face of the support, directing to the anterior face to involve and maintain the knees and ankles accommodated in the support.

The tripod support of this invention can be made from any type of suitable material, preferably atoxic materials. This tripod support has great application in hospitals, clinics, houses and schools, presenting as a unique characteristic, the function of positioning and at the same time treating the postural alterations which come up during infant development, at the neuromotor dysfunctions.

Claims

CLAIM

1. Tripod support for positioning at the sitting posture, characterized in that it comprises a unique part 1, for accommodation of the trunk, wherein it shows a first extension for the sides 2, for containing the head, and a second extension 3, just underneath the first one, for containing the shoulder, projecting itself previously, just underneath the second extension 3, forming a 90° angle and bisecting into two chutes with a 45° opening between each other, for accommodation of the lower limbs 4, as well as a band system which can comprise of a padded and impermeable material having a device opening at the side via Velcro, there being two bands 6, which originate at the posterior face of the second extension 3, crossing between each other at the anterior face of the support and fixing on the posterior face of the support 1, near the beginning of the anterior projection of the support, the other band 7 which originates at the posterior face of the support 1, at the point wherein the support projects itself previously, for accommodation of the hip, directing to the anterior face, and there are still two other bands 8 and 9, at the chutes which bisect 4 for good accommodation of the knee and ankles fixed on the posterior face of the support, directing to the anterior face to involve and maintain the knees and ankles accommodated in the support, and presenting a structure 5 which acts as a support for the device forming a tripod with the main structure 1, located at the posterior part of the vertical axis of 'the support with the hinged system at the height of the extensions 3 for accommodation of the shoulders.